New Delhi: Deepak Fertilisers has raised its open offer price for acquiring another 26 per cent stake in Vijay Mallya-promoted Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd (MCFL) to Rs. 63 per share, aggregating to Rs. 194.12 crore.
On April 23, Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd (DFPCL) had increased its stake to over 25 per cent and made an open offer to buy another 26 per cent for Rs. 190 crore.
The company had acquired 10 lakh shares in MCFL for about Rs. 6.26 crore.
DFPCL and Saroj Poddar-led Zuari Fertilisers have been engaged in a tug-of-war for about a year for control of MCFL, which had sales of Rs. 2,779.59 crore in 2012-13.
Following the open offer by DFPCL, the Zuari group's advisory committee is scheduled to meet this week to discuss the future course of action, sources said.
"The offer price has been revised from Rs. 61.75 per equity share at the time to Rs. 63 per equity share... The offer price is subject to further revision, if any, pursuant to the SEBI (SAST) Regulations or at the discretion of the acquire," DFPCL has said in a filing to the BSE.
If the open offer to shareholders succeeds, DFPCL will wrest control of the firm that belongs to debt-ridden UB Group and owns and operates urea and chemical plants at New Mangalore port in Karnataka.
The promoter UB Group holds about 22 per cent in MCFL.
A UB spokesperson had earlier said, "We will study the offer, review our options and respond accordingly."
JM Financial Institutional Securities Ltd will manage the open offer for Deepak Fertilisers, which is acquiring the MCFL shares along with SCM Soilfert.
Last year, Zuari bought a 16.43 per cent stake in MCFL and Deepak Fertilisers purchased 24.46 per cent.
The three companies compete in the fertiliser business, but the huge debt burden of the Mr Mallya-led group has led to speculation about MCFL being an apparent takeover target.
Any direct or indirect acquisition of shares amounting to a stake of 25 per cent or more in a listed company triggers a mandatory open offer by the acquirer for additional shares.
